Aspects of the invention are directed to a two phase payment link and authorization method and system for mobile devices. A method for payment and authorization according to an embodiment includes: requesting and receiving, at a mobile device, a transaction identifier from a payment service; displaying the transaction identifier on a display of the mobile device, wherein the transaction identifier is in a machine readable format; scanning the transaction identifier at a point of sale system; sending the transaction identifier and transaction information associated with items to be purchased from the point of sale system to the payment service; creating, at the payment service, a logical link between the mobile device and the point of sale system, based on the transaction identifier; and sending the transaction information from the payment system to the mobile device.